Son of Robert "Bugler" Jeffery and Flora Wiles. His father was a blacksmith and a farmer in teh Mt. Olive area of Izard County, Arkansas. Bynum had four brothers and four sisters plus two half brothers and one half sister.
OBIT - Pryor Daily Times
September 16, 2010
"Robert Bynum Jeffery — Funeral services for Bynum Jeffery, 95, Chouteau, are 10:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 17, at Chouteau Hills Church of Christ. Brother Steve Lay will officiate and burial will follow at Bryan Chapel Cemetery, Boatman. Services are entrusted to Stephens Memorial Chapel. Jeffery was born on June 28, 1915, in Mt. Olive, Ark., to Robert and Flora (Wiles) Jeffery. He died Sept. 14, in Inola, at the age of 95 years, 2 months and 17 days. Jeffery lived in Chouteau since 1971. He worked for Lockhead Martin Aero for 15 years, where he worked on the assembly line and had top secret clearance. He was a veteran of World War II, having served with the U.S. Navy. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor, serving on the USS Raleigh Cruiser and the USS Burleson. It was from the Burleson that he viewed the atomic bomb that was dropped on Japan. He earned the American Defense Medal and the Neptune Certificate. He married Freeda Mae Owens on Nov. 19, 1945, in Pryor. She preceded him in death on April 18, 2003. He loved to garden and enjoyed growing and producing pecans from his 20 pecan trees. Jeffery is survived by one son, Bynum Sevel Jeffery and wife Jennifer, Apple Valley, Calif.; granddaughter Jeannette R. Westra, Denver, Colo.; grandson Brian Jeffery, Denver, Colo.; three great-grandchildren; brothers Forrest Jeffery, Bates City, Mo., and Curtis Jeffery, Missouri and sister Laura Jordan, Missouri. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents. The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, Sept. 16, at Stephens Memorial Chapel from 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of other remembrances, donations can be made to Truth For Today World Mission School, 2209 S. Benton, Searcy, Arkansas 72143."
As the obituary states, Bynum was a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Empire of Japan on December 7th, 1941, "A day which will live in infamy". Bynum was a Seaman Apprentice and had been in the Navy for about 10 months when the attack occurred. He was below deck on that Sunday morning, cleaning the Chief's quarters on the USS Raleigh when the attack began. The Raleigh was tied up next to the battleship USS Utah on the north side of Ford Island. A torpedo struck the hit the #2 fire room on the port side of the ship (Bynum was on the other side of the ship when this occurred). He had just came from that fire room a few minutes earlier where he had gone to sharpen his knife. He thought the Japanese were attacking from the sea since they had been hit by a torpedo but he soon realized that was incorrect. His battle station was twin 6 inch guns forward of the ships forecastle (sailors forward living quarters) where he would work as an ammunition handler, passing rounds up to the gun loader. He was in darkness and had to pass the ammo up by feel only. He could hear the gunners above as they fired their twin 6's and cursed the Japanese. Bynum was able to finally get up to the turret and saw the attack as it occurred on Ford Island but had to take cover almost immediately due to the bombs that were being dropped. A bomb hit the Raleigh and went through five decks of the ship, just missing the ammo locker by about two feet. Had the bomb it it, the entire rear of the ship would have been blown off. When the attack was over, the ship was listing badly to one side. It was badly damaged but it was repaired and put to see in July 1942 with Bynum on board. The USS Utah had capsized and sank at Pearl Harbor. That night, he slept in the "crow's nest" of the ship and witnessed an American plane get shot down by nervous gunners who thought it was a Japanese plane. After the ship returned to duty, Bynum sailed with her to many areas in the South Pacific and the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. He had transferred to the USS Burleson and was on that ship when the Atomic Bomb was set off on Bikini and Eniwetok Islands. The men were made to stay below deck as the flash would blind them, but they could come up to see the mushroom cloud. He discharged from the Navy in 1947 with the rate of Water Tender 2nd Class.
For his service in World War II, Bynum rated the following verified decorations:
Combat Action Ribbon
American Defense Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 3 service stars (maybe more)
World war II Victory Medal
Pearl Harbor Commemorative Medal (AKA the Pearl Harbor Survivor's Medal authorized in 1991).
OBIT - Pryor Daily Times
September 16, 2010
"Robert Bynum Jeffery — Funeral services for Bynum Jeffery, 95, Chouteau, are 10:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 17, at Chouteau Hills Church of Christ. Brother Steve Lay will officiate and burial will follow at Bryan Chapel Cemetery, Boatman. Services are entrusted to Stephens Memorial Chapel. Jeffery was born on June 28, 1915, in Mt. Olive, Ark., to Robert and Flora (Wiles) Jeffery. He died Sept. 14, in Inola, at the age of 95 years, 2 months and 17 days. Jeffery lived in Chouteau since 1971. He worked for Lockhead Martin Aero for 15 years, where he worked on the assembly line and had top secret clearance. He was a veteran of World War II, having served with the U.S. Navy. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor, serving on the USS Raleigh Cruiser and the USS Burleson. It was from the Burleson that he viewed the atomic bomb that was dropped on Japan. He earned the American Defense Medal and the Neptune Certificate. He married Freeda Mae Owens on Nov. 19, 1945, in Pryor. She preceded him in death on April 18, 2003. He loved to garden and enjoyed growing and producing pecans from his 20 pecan trees. Jeffery is survived by one son, Bynum Sevel Jeffery and wife Jennifer, Apple Valley, Calif.; granddaughter Jeannette R. Westra, Denver, Colo.; grandson Brian Jeffery, Denver, Colo.; three great-grandchildren; brothers Forrest Jeffery, Bates City, Mo., and Curtis Jeffery, Missouri and sister Laura Jordan, Missouri. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents. The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, Sept. 16, at Stephens Memorial Chapel from 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of other remembrances, donations can be made to Truth For Today World Mission School, 2209 S. Benton, Searcy, Arkansas 72143."
As the obituary states, Bynum was a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Empire of Japan on December 7th, 1941, "A day which will live in infamy". Bynum was a Seaman Apprentice and had been in the Navy for about 10 months when the attack occurred. He was below deck on that Sunday morning, cleaning the Chief's quarters on the USS Raleigh when the attack began. The Raleigh was tied up next to the battleship USS Utah on the north side of Ford Island. A torpedo struck the hit the #2 fire room on the port side of the ship (Bynum was on the other side of the ship when this occurred). He had just came from that fire room a few minutes earlier where he had gone to sharpen his knife. He thought the Japanese were attacking from the sea since they had been hit by a torpedo but he soon realized that was incorrect. His battle station was twin 6 inch guns forward of the ships forecastle (sailors forward living quarters) where he would work as an ammunition handler, passing rounds up to the gun loader. He was in darkness and had to pass the ammo up by feel only. He could hear the gunners above as they fired their twin 6's and cursed the Japanese. Bynum was able to finally get up to the turret and saw the attack as it occurred on Ford Island but had to take cover almost immediately due to the bombs that were being dropped. A bomb hit the Raleigh and went through five decks of the ship, just missing the ammo locker by about two feet. Had the bomb it it, the entire rear of the ship would have been blown off. When the attack was over, the ship was listing badly to one side. It was badly damaged but it was repaired and put to see in July 1942 with Bynum on board. The USS Utah had capsized and sank at Pearl Harbor. That night, he slept in the "crow's nest" of the ship and witnessed an American plane get shot down by nervous gunners who thought it was a Japanese plane. After the ship returned to duty, Bynum sailed with her to many areas in the South Pacific and the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. He had transferred to the USS Burleson and was on that ship when the Atomic Bomb was set off on Bikini and Eniwetok Islands. The men were made to stay below deck as the flash would blind them, but they could come up to see the mushroom cloud. He discharged from the Navy in 1947 with the rate of Water Tender 2nd Class.
For his service in World War II, Bynum rated the following verified decorations:
Combat Action Ribbon
American Defense Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 3 service stars (maybe more)
World war II Victory Medal
Pearl Harbor Commemorative Medal (AKA the Pearl Harbor Survivor's Medal authorized in 1991).
Son of Robert "Bugler" Jeffery and Flora Wiles. His father was a blacksmith and a farmer in teh Mt. Olive area of Izard County, Arkansas. Bynum had four brothers and four sisters plus two half brothers and one half sister.
OBIT - Pryor Daily Times
September 16, 2010
"Robert Bynum Jeffery — Funeral services for Bynum Jeffery, 95, Chouteau, are 10:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 17, at Chouteau Hills Church of Christ. Brother Steve Lay will officiate and burial will follow at Bryan Chapel Cemetery, Boatman. Services are entrusted to Stephens Memorial Chapel. Jeffery was born on June 28, 1915, in Mt. Olive, Ark., to Robert and Flora (Wiles) Jeffery. He died Sept. 14, in Inola, at the age of 95 years, 2 months and 17 days. Jeffery lived in Chouteau since 1971. He worked for Lockhead Martin Aero for 15 years, where he worked on the assembly line and had top secret clearance. He was a veteran of World War II, having served with the U.S. Navy. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor, serving on the USS Raleigh Cruiser and the USS Burleson. It was from the Burleson that he viewed the atomic bomb that was dropped on Japan. He earned the American Defense Medal and the Neptune Certificate. He married Freeda Mae Owens on Nov. 19, 1945, in Pryor. She preceded him in death on April 18, 2003. He loved to garden and enjoyed growing and producing pecans from his 20 pecan trees. Jeffery is survived by one son, Bynum Sevel Jeffery and wife Jennifer, Apple Valley, Calif.; granddaughter Jeannette R. Westra, Denver, Colo.; grandson Brian Jeffery, Denver, Colo.; three great-grandchildren; brothers Forrest Jeffery, Bates City, Mo., and Curtis Jeffery, Missouri and sister Laura Jordan, Missouri. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents. The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, Sept. 16, at Stephens Memorial Chapel from 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of other remembrances, donations can be made to Truth For Today World Mission School, 2209 S. Benton, Searcy, Arkansas 72143."
As the obituary states, Bynum was a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Empire of Japan on December 7th, 1941, "A day which will live in infamy". Bynum was a Seaman Apprentice and had been in the Navy for about 10 months when the attack occurred. He was below deck on that Sunday morning, cleaning the Chief's quarters on the USS Raleigh when the attack began. The Raleigh was tied up next to the battleship USS Utah on the north side of Ford Island. A torpedo struck the hit the #2 fire room on the port side of the ship (Bynum was on the other side of the ship when this occurred). He had just came from that fire room a few minutes earlier where he had gone to sharpen his knife. He thought the Japanese were attacking from the sea since they had been hit by a torpedo but he soon realized that was incorrect. His battle station was twin 6 inch guns forward of the ships forecastle (sailors forward living quarters) where he would work as an ammunition handler, passing rounds up to the gun loader. He was in darkness and had to pass the ammo up by feel only. He could hear the gunners above as they fired their twin 6's and cursed the Japanese. Bynum was able to finally get up to the turret and saw the attack as it occurred on Ford Island but had to take cover almost immediately due to the bombs that were being dropped. A bomb hit the Raleigh and went through five decks of the ship, just missing the ammo locker by about two feet. Had the bomb it it, the entire rear of the ship would have been blown off. When the attack was over, the ship was listing badly to one side. It was badly damaged but it was repaired and put to see in July 1942 with Bynum on board. The USS Utah had capsized and sank at Pearl Harbor. That night, he slept in the "crow's nest" of the ship and witnessed an American plane get shot down by nervous gunners who thought it was a Japanese plane. After the ship returned to duty, Bynum sailed with her to many areas in the South Pacific and the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. He had transferred to the USS Burleson and was on that ship when the Atomic Bomb was set off on Bikini and Eniwetok Islands. The men were made to stay below deck as the flash would blind them, but they could come up to see the mushroom cloud. He discharged from the Navy in 1947 with the rate of Water Tender 2nd Class.
For his service in World War II, Bynum rated the following verified decorations:
Combat Action Ribbon
American Defense Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 3 service stars (maybe more)
World war II Victory Medal
Pearl Harbor Commemorative Medal (AKA the Pearl Harbor Survivor's Medal authorized in 1991).
OBIT - Pryor Daily Times
September 16, 2010
"Robert Bynum Jeffery — Funeral services for Bynum Jeffery, 95, Chouteau, are 10:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 17, at Chouteau Hills Church of Christ. Brother Steve Lay will officiate and burial will follow at Bryan Chapel Cemetery, Boatman. Services are entrusted to Stephens Memorial Chapel. Jeffery was born on June 28, 1915, in Mt. Olive, Ark., to Robert and Flora (Wiles) Jeffery. He died Sept. 14, in Inola, at the age of 95 years, 2 months and 17 days. Jeffery lived in Chouteau since 1971. He worked for Lockhead Martin Aero for 15 years, where he worked on the assembly line and had top secret clearance. He was a veteran of World War II, having served with the U.S. Navy. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor, serving on the USS Raleigh Cruiser and the USS Burleson. It was from the Burleson that he viewed the atomic bomb that was dropped on Japan. He earned the American Defense Medal and the Neptune Certificate. He married Freeda Mae Owens on Nov. 19, 1945, in Pryor. She preceded him in death on April 18, 2003. He loved to garden and enjoyed growing and producing pecans from his 20 pecan trees. Jeffery is survived by one son, Bynum Sevel Jeffery and wife Jennifer, Apple Valley, Calif.; granddaughter Jeannette R. Westra, Denver, Colo.; grandson Brian Jeffery, Denver, Colo.; three great-grandchildren; brothers Forrest Jeffery, Bates City, Mo., and Curtis Jeffery, Missouri and sister Laura Jordan, Missouri. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents. The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, Sept. 16, at Stephens Memorial Chapel from 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of other remembrances, donations can be made to Truth For Today World Mission School, 2209 S. Benton, Searcy, Arkansas 72143."
As the obituary states, Bynum was a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Empire of Japan on December 7th, 1941, "A day which will live in infamy". Bynum was a Seaman Apprentice and had been in the Navy for about 10 months when the attack occurred. He was below deck on that Sunday morning, cleaning the Chief's quarters on the USS Raleigh when the attack began. The Raleigh was tied up next to the battleship USS Utah on the north side of Ford Island. A torpedo struck the hit the #2 fire room on the port side of the ship (Bynum was on the other side of the ship when this occurred). He had just came from that fire room a few minutes earlier where he had gone to sharpen his knife. He thought the Japanese were attacking from the sea since they had been hit by a torpedo but he soon realized that was incorrect. His battle station was twin 6 inch guns forward of the ships forecastle (sailors forward living quarters) where he would work as an ammunition handler, passing rounds up to the gun loader. He was in darkness and had to pass the ammo up by feel only. He could hear the gunners above as they fired their twin 6's and cursed the Japanese. Bynum was able to finally get up to the turret and saw the attack as it occurred on Ford Island but had to take cover almost immediately due to the bombs that were being dropped. A bomb hit the Raleigh and went through five decks of the ship, just missing the ammo locker by about two feet. Had the bomb it it, the entire rear of the ship would have been blown off. When the attack was over, the ship was listing badly to one side. It was badly damaged but it was repaired and put to see in July 1942 with Bynum on board. The USS Utah had capsized and sank at Pearl Harbor. That night, he slept in the "crow's nest" of the ship and witnessed an American plane get shot down by nervous gunners who thought it was a Japanese plane. After the ship returned to duty, Bynum sailed with her to many areas in the South Pacific and the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. He had transferred to the USS Burleson and was on that ship when the Atomic Bomb was set off on Bikini and Eniwetok Islands. The men were made to stay below deck as the flash would blind them, but they could come up to see the mushroom cloud. He discharged from the Navy in 1947 with the rate of Water Tender 2nd Class.
For his service in World War II, Bynum rated the following verified decorations:
Combat Action Ribbon
American Defense Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 3 service stars (maybe more)
World war II Victory Medal
Pearl Harbor Commemorative Medal (AKA the Pearl Harbor Survivor's Medal authorized in 1991).
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